The Arians Family Foundation, based in Tampa, Fla., has surpassed $5 million in funds to assist children navigating the court system due to abuse or neglect, with that number increasing on Tuesday.
This was achieved through their yearly charity event, “Dinner with a Buccaneer,” held on May 13 at AVA, a well-known Italian restaurant in Tampa, where numerous familiar faces gathered to show their support.
Current Tampa Bay Buccaneers players like Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Chris Goodwin, along with former team members and coaches, participated in the event.
“The Bucs are the best. They’re just the best. The team, the guys on the team, from the ownership on down, they’re all so supportive. Such good people,” said Christine Arians, who created the foundation alongside her husband, Bruce, in 2013.
The former Super Bowl LV winning head coach said it’s a “very personal thing” for him and his wife. Christine Arians spent over two decades as an attorney representing and advocating for abused and neglected children.
“25 years. It’s crazy,” Christine Arians said during the fundraising dinner Tuesday. “I don’t know if I save them, but I can help kids’ lives be better; and when you’re in the system, it takes a lot of work to make kids’ lives better, so I just felt like I had to do that.”
Bruce Arians said his role in the foundation was all about honoring his wife’s work. He added that it “means the world” to have the support of the Bucs and their fanbase.
All of the proceeds benefit CASA programs in Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and currently the GAL program of greater Tampa.
“For me, it was like once we get a chance, we’re going to bring as much attention and awareness to this because it’s a great cause,” Bruce Arians said.
